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Toy Story 3 (2009)

Director: Lee Unkrich

Time Out rating

Average user rating

37 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

The ‘Toy Story’ films are deservedly seen as the gold standard for computer-generated animation, putting their gorgeously detailed digital craftsmanship at the service of a pleasingly simple fantasy set-up, warm, complex characterisation and classically elegant storytelling. But, like the best children’s stories, they’re also about something seriously scary: the separation anxiety with which all kids (and plenty of adults) are familiar and the spectre of its extreme extrapolation, total abandonment. It doesn’t take a sociologist to work out why such themes might strike a chord at a time when family life is so fragile for so many; the ‘Toy Story’ cycle broaches the subject with an emotional honesty that allows young viewers to exercise those anxieties in safety – even if it stops short of the kind of traumatic wallop associated with, say, Bambi’s mum.

This third outing finds the gang – Woody the cowboy (voiced by Tom Hanks), space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack), timid dinosaur Rex (Wallace Shawn) and various other dog, pig and potato-based playthings – facing the reality of their long-indifferent owner leaving for college. The toys fear indefinite leave in the attic or – worse – the trash; the middle ground is relocation to Sunnyside, a day-care centre where, perhaps, they can serve new owners. All seems well on their arrival – sweet kids, welcoming new toys – but jeopardy is, of course, around the corner.

The film is in 3D but, hang-gliding escapades notwithstanding, in-your-face effects take a back seat to more subtle applications, such as environmental immersion, mock-heroic playfulness and suspenseful contrasts of scale. That said, the opening adventure sequence is an assured stereo set piece and the short preceding the main feature, ‘Day & Night’, a high-concept gem.

There are several elements in ‘Toy Story 3’ that echo its predecessors: the outside-world escape plot, the reversion of Buzz to factory-setting-level naivety, the trustworthiness of new pals. But there are also many witty novelties, from a when-Barbie-met-Ken subplot to a 2D makeover for Mr Potato Head and gags about toys as Method actors. This is also a film willing to flirt with darker matter, including mortal jeopardy at a landfill, freaky clown, monkey and baby toys and a flashback in which a toy feels abandoned. Emotional responsibility is mutable in the toy-owner dynamic: at some points the toy feels like the owner’s vulnerable child, at others like its diligent parent. Either role, these reassuring movies recognise at their darkest moments, can yield the kind of despair that prompts one character to growl: ‘We’re all just trash waiting to be thrown away.’

Author: Ben Walters

Time Out London Issue 2082: 15-21 July, 2010

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User reviews of this film

Caroline said...

Posted on Oct 21 2010 15:12 Laugh out loud funny and totally absorbing... see it!

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Halii said...

Posted on Oct 09 2010 10:47 this film is the best it is so lovely i really like it and it is really enjoyable to watch if you havent watched it you have to i love it. i will give it a big 5 out of 5 itz brilliant.

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Hazzi said...

Posted on Oct 09 2010 10:40 this is 1 of the best films ever it is funny sad and enjoyable for any ages 3d is the best and i like when everthing comes close to you. Have a hapy day during the film and the weekend.

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Oct 06 2010 19:35 Great film, excellent ending to a great series!

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ellie:)! said...

Posted on Sep 13 2010 10:44 i have waited ten years for the third film to come out, and tbh, it was worth the wait. the 3d version is the best 3d film i have ever seen, no joke. i absolutely loved the story line, and everything to it. made me cry though! <3

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cammamile said...

Posted on Aug 25 2010 18:57 brilliant loved it funny sad bestest

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Film Addict said...

Posted on Aug 25 2010 14:34 Typical family film, not amazing but enjoyable viewing for all ages

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LOOSTER said...

Posted on Aug 23 2010 19:47 ToyStory is great, so funny and exciting. But at the end it's quite upsetting. You have to see this movie!!

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louis said...

Posted on Aug 23 2010 19:40 toy story is great so funny and exciting and at the end its quite upsetting but you have got to see this movie

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oldbrit said...

Posted on Aug 21 2010 19:21 Brilliant story, brilliant script, great animation and a touching thoughtful end to a wonderful three film series. .I often wonder if it is because animated movies take so long to make that the scripts are infinitely better than live action blockbusters

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lucy said...

Posted on Aug 20 2010 14:42 I think toy story 3 was absoulotly brilliant and fantastic , its was really funny it made me laugh all way through the movie so fun and i had a great evening

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RT said...

Posted on Aug 20 2010 13:34 Marvellous conclusion to the Toy Story franchise that thoroughly deserves all its accolades it gets for both its storytelling and for dragging the entire animation, which was as good as dead before the original TS, into the 21st Century.

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Rachel said...

Posted on Aug 17 2010 15:10 I thought this film was absolutly amazing! It brought back good memories of when I watched toy story 1 as a child. My 10 year old brother loved this as well, and all 6 of us that went were crying with laughter!
Best film I have seen since shutter island.
I do understand to clapping comment, I think it is very much an american thing.

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noonar said...

Posted on Aug 17 2010 10:18 absolutely brilliant, i laughed as much if not more than my kids ! our group ages ranged from 4 to 69 and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. well done pixar a brilliant ending to a much loved story.

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ric said...

Posted on Aug 14 2010 10:11 I was disappointed with '3D' again(& THAT WAS IN FRONT ROW) but otherwise movie was fab. The appaulse at the end still sucks-would you do that in your own home.WOO-YEAH,C'MON Its very sad people!! Insult was aimed at audiences NOT THE MOVIE.Cheezy,embarrassed-i think not!

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